Biochemical Methods To Access Skeletal Maturation

Growth is defined as a series of anatomic and physiologic changes taking place with increasing age
from the beginning of prenatal life to infancy, childhood & adulthood. In planning of orthodontic
treatment, anticipation of future potential of the facial skeleton is essential to ensure the successful
outcome of the mechanotherapy in the treatment of dentofacial deformities. Skeletal age assessment is
done by radiographic methods. Since the radiographic methods do not show the exact stage, the
additional biochemical methods have been proposed to be used to predict the maturation stage
accurately. This article reviews the various biochemical methods to access skeletal maturity.